Deficit campaign leaves bill unpaid

The campaign included signs on transport trucks, window signs and bumper stickers. ((CBC))

The organizer of a private campaign to convince New Brunswick politicians to take the deficit seriously has left behind an unpaid bill, says a Saint John businessman.

John Ainsworth has launched a small claims court action alleging he wasn't paid for printing services he supplied to the deficit campaign.

The campaign that took place last fall during the provincial election was organized by Rothesay businessman David Bishop.

It included giant signs on the side of transport trucks, window signs and bumper stickers with a message for the then-premier: "We live within our means: Please tell Shawn Graham!"

Now Bishop himself has been accused of not living within his means by failing to fully pay his printing bill for the materials.

"If you want to go to court and try and collect the rest of it, go right ahead," said Rod Gillis, a financial backer of the campaign and David Bishop's lawyer.

Lawyer Rod Gillis says living within one's means also includes not overpaying for things. ((CBC))

Gillis told CBC News that Ainsworth, who owns Printing Plus, charged too much for a transport truck-sized sign and Gillis didn't pay for it on principle.

"We're trying to say that we live within our means and things should be reasonable," Gillis said. "The reasonable price for this big sign — and we have other big signs that we bought at same size — is $539, and suddenly you give me a bill for $1,800 for one sign? It's not going to fly."

Gillis suggested living within one's means also includes not overpaying for things.

For his part, Ainsworth said no one was overcharged but declined any further comment until after he has his day in court.